OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

SCRUTINY PANEL 3 – NORTHAMPTON POST UNITARY

1. Purpose/Objectives of the Review

- To look at Northampton, (being mindful of the potential Unitary Authority), giving particular consideration to how civic pride and ceremonies can be protected

Key Lines of Enquiry

- To gain an understanding and overview of the civic pride, events and ceremonies (compiling a formal list) that currently take place within the Borough of Northampton
- To gain an understanding of how Northampton’s civic events and ceremonies are marketed
- To understand the role of the Mayor of Northampton
- To understand the roles of both the previous Northampton Borough Council and other partners in civic events and ceremonies within the borough
- To consider how the pride and history of the Borough and the Guildhall can be preserved and enhanced as part of any new Unitary Authority.

2. Outcomes Required

- To recommend an action plan how civic pride, events and ceremonies can be protected.

3. Information Required

- Background data
- Background reports
- Best practice data (if applicable)
- Desktop research
- Evidence from expert internal witnesses
- Evidence from expert external witnesses • Site visits (if applicable)

4. Format of Information

• Background data, including: ➢ Presentation to set the scene: a summary of the civic pride, events and ceremonies that currently take place within the Borough of Northampton and information; links with communities, role of the Mayor ➢ Relevant Legislation, for example the Localism Act 2011 ➢ Statistics: including: Number of Mayoralty events, civic ceremonies etc. Supporting Charities (previous Mayor’s)

• Best practice external to Northampton/Case Study examples

• Internal expert advisors: ➢ The current Mayor of Northampton ➢ Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council ➢ Chief Executive

• External expert advisors: ➢ Representative of the Northampton Rotary Club ➢ Freeman of the Borough ➢ Expert Historian ➢ The Chairman, Committee, Mayor’s Fund for the Housebound ➢ Lord Lieutenant’s Office ➢ High Sheriff’s Office ➢ Previous Mayor of Northampton ➢ Representative of All Saints Church, Thomas White, Blue and Orange School ➢ Chair, NIFF ➢ Town Clerk from a Town Council, such as Sutton Coldfield, Chester

5. Methods Used to Gather Information

• Minutes of meetings • Desktop research • Site visits (if applicable) • Officer reports • Presentations • Examples of best practice/case studies • Witness Evidence:-

➢ Key witnesses as detailed in section 4 of this scope

6. Co-Options to the Review

Lee Mason, previous Mayor of Northampton, to be approached to be co-opted to the Review Deputy Lieutenant to be approached to be co-opted to the Review

7. Community Impact Screening Assessment

• A Community Impact Screening Assessment to be undertaken on the scope of the Review

8. Evidence gathering Timetable

June 2018 – March 2019

• 14 June 2018 - Scoping meeting • 4 July - Evidence gathering • 20 September - Evidence gathering • 29 November - Evidence gathering • 7 February 2019 - Evidence gathering • 25 March - Approval final report

Various site visits will be programmed during this period, if required.

Meetings to commence at 6.00 pm

9. Responsible Officers

Laurie Gould, Solicitor Tracy Tiff, Scrutiny Officer 10. **Final report presented by:**

Completed by March 2019. Presented by the Chair of the Scrutiny Panel to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and then to Cabinet.

11. **Monitoring procedure:**

Review the impact of the report at the appropriate time.